The Urbanist

Tomas Pinheiro explores how the millennia-old settlement of Shanghai has grown into China’s most populous urban area.

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We look at the effects that war and conflict can have on our cities, and how we go about rebuilding our urban areas better than before.

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Charlotte McDonald-Gibson explains the design secrets and quirks behind this neoclassical US Supreme Court Building in Washington.

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We’re calling another meeting of ‘The Urbanist’ bookclub to review two titles: ‘Designing the American Century’ and ‘Women Architects at Work’.

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Guy De Launey recounts how Kupari Resort went from jewel in the Adriatic crown to derelict disaster zone, as well as what is planned for its revival.

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Can swimmability be an indicator for good quality of life and a healthy city? We report from the inaugural Swimmable Cities Summit in Rotterdam to hear about those working to improve urban waterways.

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Henry Rees-Sheridan recalls what became of Zaha Hadid’s plans for the Cardiff Bay Opera House.

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From inclusive neighbourhoods and climate-resilient design to mobility and destination development, we explore how infrastructure is being redefined – not just as roads and bridges, but as a tool for better living.

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Petri Burtsoff takes us to a historic hotel in Estonia that has stayed true to its design roots for nearly a century.

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We look at urbanism from different lenses, from a neighbourhood built on independent brands to a view on how the architecture field can innovate. And: what is ‘The Design Perspective’?

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Geetanjali Krishna takes us to a 50-year-old cinema in Jaipur, which is managing to give modern multiplexes a run for their money.

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Monocle magazine’s editor, Josh Fehnert, is joined by editor in chief, Andrew Tuck, foreign editor, Alexis Self, and senior foreign correspondent, Carlota Rebelo, to discuss what makes a city truly liveable.

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We explore an innovative pay-to-grow scheme that is helping to encourage tree growth in Sierra Leone’s capital city. Plus, Stockholm’s Battle of the Elms and making a greener Denver.

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Elena Kuji Buteică guides us through Casa Vintilă Brătianu’s storied past and the careful restoration turning it into a space for community and public life in the heart of the Romanian capital.

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We recap the successes of the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial. Plus: worker housing in Saudi Arabia and a new urban-farming development in London’s Canada Water district.

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Sally Howard tells us the secrets behind a repolished jewel in Manhattan’s hospitality crown.

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Born partly out of the necessity to store the V&A’s extensive collection, the V&A East Storehouse is already a curious asset in its own right. We uncover its design, construction and operation.

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Sophie Monaghan-Coombs tells us how the new V&A East Storehouse is bringing the memory of brutalist London housing estate Robin Hood Gardens to life.

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Carlota Rebelo reports from Bratislava for the second edition of the Start with Children summit, unpacking how child-friendly design can lead to better cities for all. 

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Liam Syed takes us to a cultural facility in the West Bank, which provides its users with an outlet for their cultural expression and helps to strengthen the area’s creative infrastructure.

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From a Mexican architect’s greatest structures to the famous London Eye, we explore the effect that iconic pieces of the built environment can have on their cities.

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Camille Rodríguez Montilla takes us to a masterfully designed public library in the heart of Colombia’s capital.

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We recap some of the most exciting city-focused conversations from Monocle’s The Chiefs conference in Jakarta.

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Alexei Korolyov takes us to a redesigned hydraulics facility that is taking on a new life in the Austrian capital.

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As Canada heads to the polls, we take a look at how urbanism made its way onto the ballot, from the housing shortage and cities’ response to tariffs to plans for Toronto’s Downsview Airport.

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Francesca Gilks takes us to a Swedish open-air amphitheatre built in a former limestone quarry.

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We delve into the power of sports to help propel the regeneration of an entire neighbourhood. We’ll explore how smart stadium design can help cities grow in a more sustainable way and hear from the architecture firm behind the world’s largest landscape-led project, Riyadh’s Sports Boulevard.

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Carla Hyenne takes us to Matadero Madrid to see how some well-timed redevelopment nearby made it an even more attractive destination for visitors.

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What are some of the ways that heating the air and water in our buildings can be made greener? We consider innovative solutions from the capture and redistribution of a building’s warmth to a solar project in London that is decarbonising The British Library’s water-heating process. Plus: we visit one of India’s historic stepwells to see how the ancient structures could provide an answer to the country’s water-supply woes.

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Geetanjali Krishna explores the exhibits at a unique station in the Indian capital, which aims to slow down hurried commuters and provide them with a chance for discovery.

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It’s all about New York this week: Jonathan Tarleton talks about his new book ‘Homes for Living’, which explores the privatisation of two housing co-ops; we look at traffic and downtown gridlock; and discover how the ‘City of Yes’ plan will bring more density to the city.

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Paul Logothetis takes us to the world’s longest natural skating rink.

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Monocle’s editor in chief, Andrew Tuck, is joined on stage by Muyiwa Oki, the president of RIBA, alongside our executive producer, Carlota Rebelo, and design editor, Nic Monisse, to explore how thoughtful architecture, visionary developers and pioneering city-makers can redefine our cities.

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Gregory Scruggs explains the story of an unlikely invention that changed the fortunes of ski towns worldwide.

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We report from San Francisco as Monocle’s Christopher Lord speaks with some of the key players and devotees of the city’s downtown – an area that has most keenly felt the effects of the post-pandemic lull. The city’s mayor, as well as property developers and local business people, weigh in on the direction of travel they see for this gold-rush city known for its boom-and-bust nature.

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Sarah Grice explores the history and current day offerings of the Warburg Institute Library.

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We are on the ground in Cannes for the global urban festival Mipim, where we speak with mayors from around the world who are looking to stoke interest in their cities.

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Tomas Pinheiro tells us how concert venue Circo Voador became so intertwined with Brazilian music that it was named an intangible cultural heritage site.

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We explore The Round, a new almost 93,000 sq m landmark development in London, to hear how developers are putting community at its core. Plus: we’re in Bangkok to discover how the city is tackling its suffocating air pollution. 

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Camille Rodríguez Montilla takes us to Universidad Central de Venezuela to see why it means so much to its students, alumni and the city as a whole.

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